Meetings - Or, Don't Annoy the Women at Work

Date: October 29, 2007

      So ---- I got up when the cat (Summer) jumped on my head. 10 minutes before the alarm was to go off. I have a 8:15 AM meeting. I hate early morning (Or late afternoon meetings.) Hate them.
      I stumbled around picking up things and putting myself together. Discovered I had passed out last night over a book without bringing the dog in. That's OK - I suspect she has a new dirt wallow on the other side of the house - my having barricaded the last two on this side. She is relentless - digs up lilies, other plants, digs up potted plants, whatever. She has landscaped the back yard several times - I spaded over the lawn more times than I can count trying to re-level it. At the moment, potted plants sit in the wallows in the what-was-once-lawn area. Bored and pissy Border Collie. 15 years old and cantankerous.
      I made decaf and Medifast Oatmeal. I skipped antihistamine. (And now have a raging headache since a rainstorm is flirting around. Hope I brought Sudafed.) I took my pills. Removed curlers put in on Saturday night and LEFT IN all day Sunday (ever have a day like that?) I brushed stray dried mud out of my hair (splatter from washing down the sidewalk and jet-spraying the dirt back into a wallow).
      I got dressed easily, found earrings and clean underwear, packed up and went to work. I arrived, traffic and all, by 8:05AM. I made decaf in the big pot (good - now I KNOW it is decaf).
      I went to the meeting room. NOBODY.
      I went back to my office and did email, then wandered back. Still NOBODY.
      I did this about 3 times.
      At about 8:45, 30 minutes after supposed start, someone showed up (in his office) and I went and asked. He said, "canceled for lack of participation".
      I asked someone else at 9 and he said, "Did you call in?"
      Well, no. I do NOT use a landline and I am NOT calling in from my cell phone. Means I am here to call in.
      Actually, the meetings are premature - they have many decisions to make.
      Which puts Tomorrow's 8:15 meeting in jeopardy.
      They are annoyed. I asked, "ANNOYED! Do you have any idea how annoyed I AM????"
      I could have used the extra hour of sleep. The more leisurely pace. The handling of details before I ran out the door. Like stopping at the drugstore for things I ran out of.
      Men should not do this to busy women. Especially busy women who are recovering from Trauma (the San Diego Witch Fire evacuation). We do not take it very well.
      And I have been snapped at for asking? (Bad move.)
      Quality Team Management says you cancel a meeting a minimum of 24 hours before its start. You give a minimum of 48 hours notice when you schedule or re-schedule a meeting.
      I have the equivalent of an MBA, been thru Quality team management training - twice, and have a professional certificate in Marketing Communication. I have been a manager and a director (over 20 years worth) and I know this is not a good thing.
      I already took two Tylenol.
      I'm hunting down my Sudafed.
      I may drive over to Starbuck's later for a decaf frappachino iced. Or not. [I have since discovered the "Skinny Latte".]
      Maybe I'll drive to the pet store (cat food).
      Check out QVC on-line - I need hair spray.
      Staples - I need a couple new lateral file cabinets - my two heavy old ones bit the dust during the move. They were pretty shabby.
      Too bad I didn't forward the pet ramp web page - I need to order a ramp for my dog. She no longer jumps in or out of the truck (the Tacoma TRD 4x4 is high - she's old).
      These are the things I normally take care of at home over my morning coffee and had no time for this morning.
      You should never mess with a busy woman.
      Never.
      Certainly not a woman who can watch two movies on two channels at the same time (what did we do without a remote) and do email.
      GAK!
      It's overcast and cloudy and going to sort-of rain maybe.
      Just suits my mood!
     
      Fortunately - I have a cat at home who does everything possible to distract me.
      Summer rolls over so I can rub her tummy with my bare feet!
      Or she flops head down (and falling off the couch) sprawls across my thighs for me to rub her tummy.
      And then she play-bites my feet, hands, etc.
      Or she licks my legs (YIPES! tickles)
      Or she crawls UNDER my knees
      Basically - she does anything she wants to do -----
      Reminds me of the men at work.